If you are outdoors

If you're in a city street, DROP, COVER and HOLD sheltering from falling debris under strong archways or doorways. Don't go under awnings or parapets as they might collapse.

If you're in a vehicle, pull over to an open area, stop and stay there (with your seatbelt on) until the shaking stops. Check your local ABC radio station for warnings before moving. Be aware of damaged roads, fallen powerlines and damaged overpasses and bridges.

If you're at the beach, DROP, COVER and HOLD. Move immediately to higher ground when the shaking stops.

If you are trapped

Don't move about or kick up dust, cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.

Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Shout only as a last resort so you don't inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

After an earthquake

Expect aftershocks. Each time DROP, COVER and HOLD.

Check for injuries and damage

Check for injuries:

if someone is bleeding put direct pressure on the wound - use gauze or cloth

Facts about earthquakes

An earthquake is the shaking and vibration of the ground caused by underground movement along a fault plane or by volcanic activity. Earthquakes happen without warning.

They range in strength from slight tremors to major shaking, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes, and may be followed by a series of aftershocks. An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous, large earthquake, in the same area of the main shock.

A seismograph using the Richter scale measures the energy released known as the Richter magnitude (ML) of an earthquake. The highest ML recorded on this scale is 9.5.

Most earthquake-related injuries and deaths result from falling debris when shocks damage or demolish buildings and other structures. Earthquakes can also cause:

fires - from ruptured gas lines

damage to containers holding hazardous materials

landslides and rock falls

tsunamis

soil liquefaction.

Australia averages about 80 earthquakes per year with an ML of greater than 3.0. Australia also averages an ML 5.5 every two years and an ML 6.0 every five years.

Australia's most damaging earthquake occurred at Newcastle NSW in 1989 when an ML 5.6 earthquake resulted in 13 deaths, 150 injuries and $3 billion in damage.

In the event of a severe earthquake, SA Police will be the control agency responsible for managing the emergency response. Such an event is likely to involve a whole-of-government response and recovery effort.

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